WWII Rapid Fire Dickies Bridge

Great Normandy game this weekend at the Barn in Nidderdale.

Rich Croisdale designed a cracking well balanced game based on Dickie's bridge, our game supposed that the Germans, instead of pulling back when the British got across the river, counter attacked to push them back.

Three players per side, Andy, Chris and I had the Germans whilst Richard, Jerry and John had the Brits. I was pretty focused on my game so whilst I got plenty of photos I paid no attention to the game between Jerry and Andy at the other end. Sorry guys.

The British have got a Reconnasaince regiment over the river but lost three tanks and hemmed into a wood over the Bridge. The Germans under Chris have 3 Stugs and 2 Jagdpanthers plus 3 armoured cars holding them.

On our left Jerry is trying to take and cross a ford opposed by element of an SS division coming onto table go one.

At my end Richard has another force which I later find out has bridging equipment, whilst I have a regiment of Fallschirmjager, 3 Stugs and 2 Panzer IV's with some off table artillery.

Each side deploys on about 12 inches and British go first.

Move one the British push forward and drop artillery onto the Jagdpanthers on the hill and take one out straight away, one of our best vehicles lost before we have started.

Our turn we can only see this infantry group on the hill so decide to artillery them.

I roll a one and fall to get through, not the best of starts to our game.

I had to get a picture, one of Chris's vehicles was reffered to throughout the game as "Leuitenant Grubers little tank" about as useful as the name suggested.

I decided I needed to push forward very quickly to try and push back the troops on the wood in the centre before Richard or Jerry could get their forces over the river to support John. I did however leave my two Panzer IV's hull down on the hill in reserve fire should John poke his tanks out and have a shot.

Reaching the wood my Para's de-bus and we are straight into a firefight.

My first 10 man company is cut down to 3 straight away, but my Paras fire back with anti tank gear and take out 2 tanks and some infantry.

On my right I ahve pushed 2 companies of paras to lien the bockage with an anti tank gun to try discourage Richard who has a battalion of infantry and a battalion of Churchills with two bridging tanks. I drop artillery on Richard but fail to hit anything, another theme of this game.

Behind a hill where I cant target him Richards other bridging tank is setting up supported by the Churchill command vehicles.

First bridge is down and the tanks are ready to cross.

Richards Infantry push forward to support the hidden bridging train.

My paras push forward and destroy the 11 man recon company at the edge of the wood.

In the centre I push my engineers into the edge of the wood whilst my three Stugs take on two Stuarts. 

At the same time my over watch Panzer IV's push forward to contest the bridging site behind the hill.

Already the Chuchills are corssing the bridge and the infantry and wading across the far side of the river.

Chris pushes his Stugs forward at the far side of the wood I am attacking but as one is knocked out the other two fail morale and retreat.

The British still have plenty of armour but it is now crammed into a tightening area at the rea of the wood and between the bridge and the hill.

The Churchill is over, my reserve fire from the infantry and Pak40 both miss and my pack40 is destroyed.

American air cover arrives and destroys my anti aircraft gun ironically.

John's sneaky Stuarts have driven up the arse of my Panzer IV's and taken one out, the return fire from my two Stugs and Chris's two Stugs doesn't even scratch the paintwork, double one damn!

My remaining Panzer IV ignores the Stuarts to take out Richards Churchill command tank and force a morale which the company fails and retreats.

In the woods, Chris misses with the Jagdpanther again.

The Cheeky Stuart skirts around the hill to put itself hull down, it is finally destroyed by the Panzer IV which is in turn knocked out by half a dozen shots from the British armour crossing the river.

Chris's Stugs are finally back int eh fight entering the wood but its all a little too little too late.

The Jagdpanther fires and again misses the Comet, fortunately my Paras are better shots and take it out along with the anti aircraft tank.

Machine gun fire sees the remaining half track crew KIA but the return fire decimates the remnants of my Fallschirmjager.

I pull the remaining Para company back to the woods and push a Stug forward in support but its not much to stop an infantry battalion and armoured battalion.

The Churchill is over the bockage and in amongst my Paras, by the end of the move the MG and one company are no more.

The Jagdpanther first for the sixth time and misses for the sixth time, our best gun in our best armour. Hopeless!

From starting strength of around 85 figures my Falschirmjager regiment is down to around 25 men. We have take the wood and mauled the British but we have nothing left to hold t with.

A fabulous game, both sides have taken a very thorough pounding and Richard declares a draw although he feels at this stage the Germans would pull back.

Apologies some of the photos may be a little out of sync but hopefully you get the idea.

Really enjoyed my first Rapid fire for a few months and looking forward to another one very soon.